30S 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 



Nitvemher 



! 



GERMANY. 



Keideiibach lias shown, by careful ob- 

 servation, that a colony of bees consumes 

 but little houey during the three winter 

 months. November, December and Jan- 

 uary, amounting- to six or eight pounds 

 per hive. Wilkins thinks it very essen- 

 tial that our bees should come through 

 these three months in good condition : 

 and in consideration of IJeiilenbach's 

 observation, advises feeding each colony 

 about eight or ten pounds of good syrup 

 as soon as brood-rearing has ceased and 

 the brood is about ail hatched. He cal- 

 culates that by feeding at this time the 

 bees will store this wholesome food near 

 their Winter nest and thus consume it 

 lirst. In instances where the hives were 

 very heavy with honey-dew or other un- 

 wholesome stores he has extracted from 

 the central combs before feeding. Since 

 lie has adopted this method he has not 

 had a case of diseased bees, dysentery or 

 the like, in the Spring. 

 9 



In a general way it is true that bees 

 when at work, visit but one kind of 

 tiowers. Exceptions to this rule are very 

 common. Prof. Cook and others, as well 

 as myself, have mentioned such, years 

 ago. In 188(i I spoke of a case in the 

 American Bee Juitnial. I liad observed a 

 bee first visiting tlie blue thistle, then the 

 plantain, returning to the thistle etc.; 

 a rather singular occurrence, as these 

 two plants named are so totally different. 

 The editor of lUustrlerte Bienoi Zeiiunij 

 has made a similar observation and an- 

 nounces it as a new discovery — but a 

 little too late. 



I wish to endorse the recommendation 

 found in Illustr. Bienen Zeltung to eat 

 honey instead of sugar with lettuce. 

 Sweeten the vinegar with it and pour 

 over the leaves. 



9 



A single bee-egg weighs one-sixth mil- 

 ligram. Three millions would weigh 

 one pound at this rate. — Schleh-wlg- 

 HolHtcin Bleneti Zeitiing. 



The Deutsche Blenenfreund urges bee- 

 keepers to visit their neighboring bee- 

 keepers as well as to attend the bee- 

 keepers" conventions, and continues, 

 "One may learn two things: how to do 

 things and how not to do things."" Pretty 

 good advice. 



■J 



The German press has gotten a hold of 

 the following, and makes a big blow 



ing one 



The advantages of having drone-comb 

 in the hives art; given in Deutsche Bleneu- 

 freund as follows: (1) the bees have an 

 opportunity to satisfy their natural de- 

 sires as to building it. (2) It is easier for 

 bees to construct drone-cells. (.3) More 

 honey is stored in drone-comb. (4) Pollen 

 is not stored in it. (5) Drone-comb sec- , 

 tion honey is pleasing to the eye (?) as well 

 as the tongue. (6) Honey extracts more 

 freely and perfectly from cli'one-combs. 

 (7) liees will swarm tpiicker when they 

 have a supply of drone-comb in the hive. 



a 



The same paper gives a recipe for mak- 

 ing an effective and cheap paint for 

 hives, as follows: Take cabinet makers' 

 glue, cover with cold water, let stand 

 iwenty-four hours, then pour off all 

 water that has not combined with the 

 glue. Now add linseed oil ((quantity not 

 given) and boil slowly till all has become 

 a smooth mass. This paint will become 

 very hard and withstands all influences 

 of moisture. 



From Die Blcne: Drone-s are saiil to 

 answer first-rate as bait for fishing, in 

 particular when fishing for trout. If 

 this is true, and the fact becomes known, 

 it might help prevent much cruelty to 

 animals, as the drones could be kilh-d 

 before putting them on the hook, while 

 the worms now used cannot. 



Many bee-keepers in Germany are in 

 the habit of setting aside a portion of 

 tlieir colonies for increase, another for 

 honey production, at the beginning of 

 the season. Each portion, of course, has 

 to be treated according to the object in 

 view. We do not find it difficult to work 

 for increase ; but to obtain lioney only 

 we do. To accomplish the latter, the 

 following rules are laid down in Die 

 Blene: A colony must not be allowed 

 to swarm nor be drawn on for increase: 

 must not be compelled to build much 

 comb: should be given plenty of comb 

 and foundation. The brood-chamber 

 must be free from drone-comb. A 

 young queen should be in the hive. which 

 should also be room v. 



zViiother new honey-plant, pha/.elia. is 



